Birdwatch Norway ... Eddie's Birding Blog:
The Scandinavian Birding Experience
Some Of My More Interesting Observations
White-tailed Eagle
1 imm. Gjernes 11/12
Red-headed Smew
2 ind. Lake Mels 11/12
Common Teal
3 female. Lake Mels 11/12
White-backed Woodpecker
2 ind. Hosås 23/10
Nutcracker 1 ind.
Hosås 23/10
Bohemian Waxwing
16 ind. Voss 21/10
Grey-headed Woodpecker
1 ind. Sæle 25/9.
White-tailed Eagle 1 adult.
Sotra 25/9
Richard's Pipit 1 ind.
Hellesøy 25/9
White-backed Woodpecker
2-3 ind Hosås
Grey Wagtail 2 ind
Voss 20/9
Common Swift 4 ind.
Voss - 13/8
Northern Goshawk 1 ind.
Hosås - 12/8
Nutcracker 11 ind
Voss 11/8
Peregrine 1 ind.
Vetlevatnet - 18/7
Gyrfalcon 1 ind
Gjernesmoen - 17/07/2011
Common Crane 1 ind.
Nedkvitne - 16/07/2011
Nutcracker 1 ind
Hosås - 23/5/2011
Carrion Crow 1 ind.
Svellingen - 22/5/2011
11/12 ... Voss: After spending time in the Netherlands counting wildfowl and looking for neck collars on geese, I returned to Norway to find winter conditions. On my arrival in Voss I saw that Whooper Swans had arrived, so maybe I should start with a wildfowl count on my home patch. Weather conditions couldn't be worse. A heavy snowfall that lasted all day produced near white-out conditions and poor visibility. Here are the results. Whooper Swan numbers reached 36 birds with 11 juv birds amongst the flocks. 13 Canada Geese were present on Lake Seim while 3 female Common Teal on Lake Mels was an interesting winter observation. Mallard numbers reached 109 but I am sure more birds are present but difficult to find due to the weather conditions. There was a scattering of both Tufted Duck and Common Goldeneye on the lakes that I checked. However, the bird(s) of the day were 2 Red-headed Smew on Lake Mels. If the Smews were the bird(s) of the day it was a imm White-tailed Eagle that sat in a tree about 4 metres from me that was the days highlight. I was sat in my car so it didn't react. I also stumbled on a flock of 50+ Redpoll were at least five were Mealy. Away from the waterfowl count this winters flock of Greenfinch that visits my garden has reached about 70 birds while I have been told that Hawfinches have arrived at one of their favourite bird tables though I have not had time to check this since my return to Voss.
23/10... I returned to Voss to find the first of this winters Bohemian Waxwings waiting for me on the 21/10. I didn't manage to get out and about before the 23/10. There was a thick mist in the valley so I headed for higher woodlands. I visited Hosås were the only species of interest were 2 White-backed Woodpeckers and a single Nutcracker. I leave again for another trip in a few days time so my blog will not be updated before my return during week 50.
